This feature allows you to access your death benefit if you are diagnosed with or have the need for any of the following1:
You can take one claim per year and per qualifying condition arising from the same event as long as you maintain the policy minimum.
Your death benefit will be reduced by an amount greater than the amount you receive. This reduction will be no more than an amount based on a factor guaranteed in your policy.
The actual factor applied at the time of claim may result in a lower reduction than the guaranteed factor. This means that more of your death benefit could be preserved.
The critical illness benefit paid will be reduced to pay due and unpaid premium or charges. Additionally, a pro rata portion of the payment will be applied as a policy loan payment if there is any outstanding indebtedness. In addition to a death benefit reduction, other policy values will be reduced.
[1] Additional specific requirements apply. Please consult your policy or speak with your financial professional to learn more.
Available products
The Critical Illness Benefit is automatically included on most policies of the following life insurance offerings:
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Term
Nationwide YourLife® Guaranteed Level Term
(Not available on 10-year term policies) -
Whole
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Universal
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Variable
Optional riders that customize a policy to fit individual needs usually carry an additional charge and are available only through the purchase of variable universal life insurance products. Riders may be known by different names in different states and may not be available in every state.
Keep in mind that, as an acceleration of the death benefit, exercising the Chronic Illness Rider or the Critical Illness Rider payout will reduce both the death benefit and cash surrender value by an amount greater than one dollar for every dollar paid out. Make sure life insurance needs will still be met, even if the rider pays out in full. Though riders that customize a policy to fit individual needs usually carry an additional charge, neither the Chronic Illness Rider, the Critical Illness Rider nor the Terminal Illness Rider have an initial cost or upfront monthly charge when included in the policy; however, a cost is incurred if and when the rider is exercised. A life insurance purchase should be based on the life policy and not solely on riders or features.
Variable products are sold by prospectus. To obtain a product prospectus, call 1-800-321-6064, contact an insurance professional or click on the prospectus link on Nationwide.com. Before investing, you should read the prospectus carefully and consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. The product prospectus and underlying fund prospectus contain this and other important information.
Guarantees and protections are subject to Nationwide’s claims-paying ability. They don’t apply to the investment performance or safety of the underlying investment options. Underlying subaccounts are available only as investment options in variable insurance contracts issued by life insurance companies. They are not offered directly to the general public.